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Meanwhile, the chief circuit judge in Hinds County asked the Attorney General's Office what to do next.

"The reason I didn't respond (Thursday) is because I never officially received the report. I actually received the report from the media," Lewis said.

WAPT-TV was the source that handed Lewis the report Thursday in which the jury foreman said, "While at the jail, we witnessed the immediate after effects of arson, a prisoner exposed himself to us, and we witnessed a prisoner in possession of a cellphone -- a felony."

The report also listed several disturbances over the past two years, including one that left a prisoner dead.

"I don't know what this grand jury was all about or what it was convened for, but I can respond to some of the allegations put before me," Lewis said. "Those are questions you would have to ask the (district attorney)."

Lewis said the root of the problems is a backlogged court system.

"A detention center is a place where detainees are held for a short period of time -- more or so less than a year until their cases are heard," Lewis said. "I can tell you that this is not happening in Hinds County because of the court system. Let me repeat: The court system is not functioning properly."

"There will always be someone inside the jail whether they're in there two weeks (or) two years. That is not the problem, and that is an answer to be expected, a response to be expected, but that is absolutely not the problem. People are in jail, in and out of jail every day," Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith said.

In a news conference, Lewis showed a list of more than 50 inmates who have been jailed for more than two years, and he said some have been held longer.

"The problem is these problems have been neglected for over 20 years, and what we're doing now is playing catch up," Lewis said. "Political ploys, tricks and tactics are not a substitute for hard work."

"Lewis said that this is a political ploy. Is this a political ploy? No, absolutely not. This is a grand jury who inspected it themselves. This is what they are supposed to do, and they are a neutral body," Smith said.

A legal expert, Ed Pittman, was asked for his thoughts on the grand jury report.

Pittman served as attorney general in Mississippi and is a former chief justice of the State Supreme Court.

"It's unusually tough, for I have never seen a grand jury report that is this accusative. It says, in fact, that the sheriff cannot continue to serve in office. Now, they don't go to the next step and make any attempt to remove him. First, we have to know that the grand jury had the authority and the duty to inspect the jail, and they do. Do they have the authority to write a report, and they did. This report says the sheriff has the responsibility of the jail. I'm disappointed that we have such an attack on leadership in Hinds County and Jackson. Truth is, from what I have seen on the news and what I hear, Sheriff Lewis is doing a good job," Pittman said.

Pittman said the report probably is within the law, but he said he felt the language used went overboard.